Weighted golf-training hat

ABSTRACT

A golf-training hat is provided on each side above the ears of the user wearing the hat with an upwardly open pocket holding a weight.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a hat. More particularly this invention concerns a golf-training cap.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A problem with the golf swing is that the golfer bobs his/her head during the swing on moving from the setup position addressing the ball to the top of the backspin and then back to the follow-through, typically in an up-and-down motion. This action contributes nothing to striking the ball and, in fact, makes it significantly harder to hit the ball with the center of the club, resulting in topped, skulled, or chunked shots.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an improved golf-training hat.

Another object is the provision of such an improved golf-training hat that overcomes the above-given disadvantages, in particular that trains the golfer not to bob his/her head while swinging the club.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A golf-training cap has according to the invention a crown shaped to fit over a person's head and having a pair of opposite sides, a respective pocket in each of the sides, and a respective weight in each of the pockets.

Thus the mass of the weights, which typically each vary from 20 g to 50 g, makes the user conscious of the position of his/her head and therefore provides feedback so that the head bob can be felt and eliminated.

Each of the pockets according to the invention is provided with a fastenable flap for securing the respective weight therein. Thus once the user has determined the right weight, the weights can be secured in place and not get lost. To this end the flap is has a hook-and-barb strip.

The pockets and the weights in accordance with the invention are substantially rectangular. For minimum volume, the weights are of metal, normally steel. They each weigh between 20 g and 50 g, with a stronger golfer using a larger weight.

The hat according to the invention is provided with a bill projecting from the crown. This way the two pockets symmetrically flank a front-to-back head-symmetry plane so as to be comfortable and to provide meaningful inertial feedback, since the bill is invariably worn facing forward for golf.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The above and other objects, features, and advantages will become more readily apparent from the following description, reference being made to the accompanying drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is a top view of the hat according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a side view of the hat, the other side view being a mirror image thereof; and

FIG. 3 is a side view of a weight typically used with the hat.

SPECIFIC DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

As seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, a golf-training cap according to the invention is of standard constructions with a generally semispherical crown 10 made of a rugged twill or the like and a standard bill or brim 11.

In accordance with the invention each side of the crown 10 is provided with a rectangular upwardly open pocket 12 measuring about 2 in×2.5″ and normally made of the same textile as the crown, although of course for design purposes another color and/or fabric could be used. The pockets 12 are secured in place by peripheral stitching along the vertical side edges and horizontal lower edge.

Each of these pockets 12 is designed to hold a respective weight 13 typically made of steel and held in place by a fold-over flap 14 held in place by hook-and-barb (Velcro™) tape 15. The weights 14 are flat and rectangular, typically weighing 20 g, 30 g, or 50 g each. They have a width W of 2 in and a height H of 2.23 or 2.25 in and are about 0.2 in thick.

The user wearing this hat therefore is carrying a weight of up to 100 g on his/her head so that movement of the head will require more effort and, therefore, will be easier to feel and suppress. 

I claim:
 1. A golf-training cap comprising: a crown shaped to fit over a person's head and having a pair of opposite sides; a respective pocket in each of the sides; and a respective weight in each of the pockets.
 2. The golf-training hat defined in claim 1, wherein each of the pockets is provided with a fastenable flap for securing the respective weight therein.
 3. The golf-training hat defined in claim 2, wherein the flap is has a hook-and-barb strip.
 4. The golf-training hat defined in claim 1, wherein the pockets are substantially rectangular.
 5. The golf-training hat defined in claim 4, wherein the weights are substantially rectangular.
 6. The golf-training hat defined in claim 1, wherein the weights are of metal.
 7. The golf-training hat defined in claim 6, wherein the weights weigh between 20 g and 50 g.
 8. The golf-training hat defined in claim 6, wherein the weights are flat steel plates.
 9. The golf-training hat defined in claim 1, wherein the hat has a bill projecting from the crown. 